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I bought it for $382.00 in
1996. It was owned by an older man who bought it when it
was two years old.
He kept pretty good care of it, but the paint was gone and the engine was getting weak. Still I thought it a shame to let such a straight example go to the grave, so I brought it home and began reviving it! There's three coats of brown and three coats of clear... |
| It is considered a
full-size car, but really it is mid-size. One of the
things I like about it is that it has sufficient weight to
keep it from floating on the interstate, but still is light
enough to have good power and handling.
For a four door, I think it is reasonably sporty. It gets a lot of looks, maybe just trying to figure out if it's a cop car? Of course the sound gives it away... |
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It has a very comfortable
cockpit. Complete with all you might need for a venture
into unknown territory.
The computer is a Libretto. It's main function is GPS. It also keeps records of gas mileage and such. There is a CB so you know about wrecks on the interstate and can divert before getting stuck in traffic, and a police scanner just for fun. Of course there's a CD... |
| The engine is a 318.
I spent about $3500.00 on it. Slightly over-mild cam,
milled heads, forged pistons and connecting rods, Edelbrock
carb and intake, MDS ignition control box, Accel coil.
Nobody made headers to fit - imagine nobody wanting to build one of these - so I made a set from the older Dart / Sprint line fit. The exhaust is completed with some Dynamax turbos - surprisingly quiet! It will idle, but would rather run... |
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Everything powers through
a 727 Torque-flight tranny down to a 2.26 geared
rear-end. It is slow off of the line, but has a very
comfortable top end - doing 1900 RPM at 70. It'll
achieve 23 MPG on the highway, around 18 in town. Not
bad for how it's built.
I have an overdrive tranny I am building for it. That'll let me put a lower gear ratio in the rear end and not lose gas mileage. I also have some suspension work left to accomplish... |